A compound exercise is any movement that includes several joints and several muscles groups. For example, the bench press is a compound exercise, because you are including the shoulders (deltoids) and chest (pectorals) in the movement. The squat is also an example of a compound move. The squat involves the quadriceps, hamstrings, glutes, hips and knees. Other examples of compound moves are deadlifts, push-ups, pull ups, lunges and bent over rows. Since we function using multiple muscle groups, then exercising more than one muscle group makes more sense. Compound exercises mimic moves that you perform daily, such as climbing stairs. Compound exercise also strengthens your core, a key component to maintaining balance and stability.